Spooky Eyes firmware (Software) Build and install, from the start

(Expand to see the full details)
Some people have had problems getting the Halloween "Spooky Eyes" (aka Uncanny Eyes) project working, and as it's coming up to Halloween again I thought it may help if I go through the full setup and install of everything, from the Arduino IDE to the working eyes project.

The video is unfortunately a bit fuzzy, so I'm also giving the install sequence & links below:

(If you already have any parts installed, just check they are OK or update them if available, and go to the next stage).

My original youtube project link:

And the article with schematic etc. on my web site:

Requirements:
Install the Arduino IDE, from here:

Let that install, run it and then let it finish installing all its drivers etc., which takes a few minutes.

Add the Seeed studio boards package from this page:
It is around 3/4 way down, in the "Getting started" section, look for the green highlighted link and copy it - this is the link as of today, but it could be changed at any time.

In the Arduino IDE, go to File - Preferences the near the bottom of the screen there is a single line entry box. Click the button to the right of that to open up a text box, and paste the above Seeed package link in to it. If you already have other boards, just paste it as a new line.
OK everything back to the main screen.

Give it a few seconds to read the file, then go to Tools - Board - Boards manager
Scroll down to find Seeed, then continue to the Seeed SAMD entry, and click install on that.

Get the project archive from the link in my original project video description, or as copied here:

Unzip that unto your Documents\Arduino directory, so you have
Documents\Arduino\uncannyEyes
with the project files in that folder.

In the Arduino IDE, go to file - open, navigate to that folder and open the project file.

Go to Tools & hover over Board, then go across to Seeed SAMD, and across to Seeduino XIAO and click that.

Then go to Tools - Manage libraries
(Then type ADAFruit in the "filter" box, to make things easier).

Scroll down to ADAFruit GFX library and click install for that.

Once done, scroll again to ADAFruit ST7735 and ST7789 library, click install on that.

Save the project (file - save) and try a test build (Verify) by clicking the tick mark near the top left of the Arduino screen.

It should(!) now compile without errors.

Connect your XIAO module to the computer with an appropriate USB cable & give it a few seconds for any needed drivers to install.

Then go to Tools - Port and select the port the Xiao is connected to.

Try an install! - The big right arrow next to the Verify tick button.

If the eye orientation is not correct for the way you want to have the LCDs installed, look at lines 54 and 55 in the project config file.
The third number on each line sets the eye rotation, and can be from 0 to 3.
If the eye image is upside down, add or subtract 2 to rotate 180; (two 90' steps).
If it is on its side, try adding or subtracting 1 or 3 (to keep within 0-3) to rotate 90' either way.
The two lines allow the eyes to be adjusted separately, so it is OK to have the LCDs in different orientations to suit whatever you are mounting them in.

The final section of the video covers the different eye graphics that are available in the original project.

Unfortunately two of these are apparently slightly to large for the Seeed Xiao storage, so the Dragon Eye and No Sclera Eye will not compile.
I will look in to this when I get the opportunity, but it won't be in time for this years Halloween, sorry. Choose other eye types for now, please.

Video content - chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:50 Getting the links from my web site & youtube project
00:02:50 Downloading & installing the Arduino IDE
00:03:50 Getting the Seeed Studio board package link
00:04:40 Letting the Arduino IDE finish setting itself up
00:05:25 Adding the Seeed library file to the Arduino IDE
00:06:30 Adding the Seeed SAMD board definitions
00:07:30 Getting the project archive from my site
00:08:15 Unpacking the downloaded project to Documents\Arduino
00:10:00 Opening the project in the Arduino IDE
00:10:40 Test compile
00:10:50 Adding the ADAFruit GFX and ST7735 libraries
00:12:44 Another test - OK!
00:13:10 Build and install
00:13:40 Adjusting the eye rotations as needed
00:16:00 Trying different "eye" images
00:24:40 Thanks for watching!

[jackhamaker]

I need to use this but I need a 2 inch screen . Could you tell me what screen I need and wiring diagram?

[DustinWatts]

Windows has a built-in screen recorder; Xbox Game Bar.Otherwise, OBS is free and very good :) Anyway, this seems like a fun Halloween project. Ow and you can set other partition scheme's under "Tools", giving you a bit more space for the firmware.

[marcosepe]

Congratulations on the project, do you have a list of the components used?

[dennisfriedl]

This works great!!! Thank you!
I was very pleased to find that I can continue to use the Arduino IDE without having to use a different tool.

I had some ST7745S on hand and was able to get them working. Turns out that that I was able to use 5v from an external source to drive everything without any issues. The pin-outs names on the ST7745S only required one change which was to connect DC to pin1 on the XAIO board. I was hoping the dragon eyes would work for my project but happy to wait for a solution since this is beyond my understanding. I'm guessing the addition of an SD cars may be in order?

[marcosepe]

The display used by the diagram is not highlighted, this is the model: 1.44 inch 1.44 "128*128 color TFT LCD screen

[marcosepe]

the displays used in this video are still the same as the first video....I see a less bright black than the previous video..am I wrong?

[OriginalMasters]

Robert, is there any way I can contact you? We work with an animatron (see our stuff sometime), and I would be very grateful if you could help me answer a few questions!

[ALUVIVULA]

Can this be done with the XIAO RP2040?